IRS Seeks New Topics For Industry Issue Resolution Program

by Leroy Baker, Tax-News.com, New York

05 March 2007

The Internal Revenue Service is encouraging business taxpayers, associations and other interested parties to submit to the Industry Issue Resolution (IIR) Program topics for resolution involving a controversy, a dispute or an unnecessary burden on taxpayers.

The objective of the IIR program is to resolve business tax issues common to significant numbers of taxpayers through new and improved guidance. In past years, issues have been submitted by associations and others representing both small and large business taxpayers, resulting in tax guidance that has affected thousands of taxpayers.

Recent results of the IIR program include clarification regarding circumstances in which facsimile signatures may be used to sign employment tax forms, and explanation of the circumstances under which insurance companies that make incentive payments to health care providers will be permitted to include those payments in unpaid losses.

For each issue selected, an IIR team of IRS and Treasury personnel gathers relevant facts from taxpayers or other interested parties affected by the issue. The goal is to recommend guidance to resolve the issue. This benefits both taxpayers and the IRS by saving time and expense that would otherwise be expended on resolving the issue through examinations.

Though submissions can be made at anytime for consideration in the IIR program, submitted issues received by March 31, 2007, will also be considered for the 2007-2008 Treasury and IRS Guidance Priority List.

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